Yesterday, The Mound of Sound had a post on the role that Pope Francis is playing in the climate change debate. Given his growing moral authority and extensive popularity throughout the world, those with vested interests in retaining the status quo that is destroying the earth, and their aiders and
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The Disaffected Lib: The Exorcism of Stephen Joseph Harper
Steve, He’s Coming for You Stephen Harper has a problem. The Holy Father is coming for him and the rest of his ilk. This time it’s not a legion of scientists who can be gagged and dismissed or a bunch of whiny Third World leaders up to their knees in
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Pope Warns We May Already Be In "Piecemeal WWIII"
Has the world already stumbled into a third world war? Pope Francis thinks that could well be the case. Denouncing war as “madness”, the Pope made his remarks while visiting Italy’s largest military cemetery. In Saturday’s homily, standing at the altar beneath Italy’s fascist-era Redipuglia memorial – where 100,000 Italian
Continue readingSister Simone for pope
What you may ask is a non-Catholic, indeed a non-Christian, doing recommending someone for pope. Well, it’s partly tongue-in-cheek, of course, even if American Sister Simone Campbell might very well make a better pope than anyone else around, including Francis himself. I am quite aware that the Catholic Church, immersed
Continue readingFrank’s 10 happiness tips
Pope Francis may still be immersed in a certain amount of traditional Catholic misogyny, but he is nonetheless a breath of fresh air for the church, and for that matter, Christianity. In a recent interview he offered 10 tips to achieve happiness. The tips are worth repeating not only because
Continue readingEclectic Lip: How Trinity Western University (unintentionally) promotes divorce
Trinity Western University has been in the news recently, as law societies in Ontario and Nova Scotia voted to not recognize lawyers trained at the religious university’s soon-to-open law school. These two law societies – like your blogger and the vast majority of Canadians – recoiled in horror at the
Continue reading350 or bust: Pope Francis: If We Destroy Creation, It Will Destroy Us
Pope Francis made the biblical case for tackling climate change on Wednesday, calling on Christians to become “Custodians of Creation” and issuing a dire warning about the potentially catastrophic effects of global climate change. Speaking to a massive crowd in Rome, the Pope delivered a short address in which he
Continue readingWorld Economic Forum backs the Pope on economic inequality
Every year the World Economic Forum hosts a confab of the world’s elite at the Swiss resort of Davos to discuss the state of the world. The Forum is funded by its 1,000 member companies, global enterprises who play a leading role in shaping the future of their industry or
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A World Badly In Need Of Inspired Leadership
Since he was elected to the position, I have written several posts related to Pope Francis; several of them express a renewed hope that the plain-speaking pontiff can generate some hope in a world badly in need of inspiring leadership, something almost wholly absent in our current crop of politicos,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Friday Evening Reflection
Hmmm. I can think of some who might resist this perspective: “God reveals himself not as one who stands above and who dominates the universe, but as He who lowers himself. It means that to be like Him, we do not have to place ourselves above the others, but come
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Noam Chomsky On Pope Francis And Liberation Theology
Given past American behaviour, Pope Francis had better be careful if he begins to practise what he preaches, considering what Noam Chomsky says here: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Something To Rejuvenate The Human Spirit
I suspect that as a lot of us get older, especially with the context that the years behind us provide, it is difficult not to submit to deep cynicism, even despair. Words that may sound fresh to some are ones that we have heard enough times before to interpret as
Continue readingThou shalt not have an economy of exclusion and inequality
I am no fan of the Roman Catholic Church, nor can I avoid cringing at some of Pope Francis’s views, particularly on women, but occasionally I do have to applaud the old boy. Such was the case with his recent apostolic exhortation when he criticized the world economic system, referring
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Refreshing Perspective
For the first time in decades, I feel a modicum of optimism about organized religion. The new Pope, Francis, is breaking the centuries-long stultification of the Church through the kinds of pronouncements that reflect its founder’s beliefs and are long overdue. But with views like these, in which he lacerates
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Another Refreshing Perspective From Pope Francis
I am finding more and more to like about the new Pope everyday. I am certain his distinction between faith and ideology will enrage some on the right – that is, if they even listen to anyone anymore. Recommend this Post
Continue readingWhat would Lesus do?
Sorry folks, I couldn’t resist it. A set of gold, silver and bronze medals commemorating the first year of the pontificate of Pope Francis, produced by the Italian State Mint, went on sale in Vatican stores last week. But not for long. They were quickly withdrawn when a slight flaw
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Pope Francis Has His Work Cut Out For Him
As The Disaffected Lib pointed out yesterday, Pope Francis seems to be making a real effort to bring a new tone and substance to the Church. However, if you watch this video, you will see that he clearly has an uphill battle in changing the views of reactionary Catholics: Recommend
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